“Do you need it today?” He was willing to take the ferry back to the island and return if it’d make her happy. It wasn’t like he had anything else planned for the day.

She shook her head. “I have plenty of yarn for now. But I’m making a blanket for one of the nurses, and it needs to be bigger than what I can manage with this.” She held up a couple of skeins.

That was his aunt, adopting the people around her and treating them like family. “Are you sure you won’t be overdoing it?”

She waved away his concern. “It’s my hip that’s injured. The rest of me is fine. I can’t just lay here and watch television. I need something to do—”

“I’ve got something for you to do.” The male voice came from the doorway. “It’s time for your physical therapy.”

Ethan turned to find a man who looked to be around his own age and of average height and build. He had a pleasant enough smile on his face, but his eyes said that he meant business.

“Not again. Didn’t I walk enough this morning?” Aunt Birdie protested. “I made it to the end of the hallway.”

“And now it’s time to do it again. Too much sitting around isn’t good for you.”

It was at this point that Ethan got to his feet. Something told him this physical therapist was used to dealing with stubborn people, and he would deal with his aunt just fine on his own.

“Wait,” Aunt Birdie said to Ethan. Then she turned to the PT guy. “Can you give us a couple of minutes?”

The man’s lips pursed as though considering the ramifications of telling Aunt Birdie no. In that moment, Ethan liked the guy. PT guy recognized that his aunt wasn’t one to be bossed around.

“Okay. I could use a coffee. But five minutes only. No more.” His serious expression said he too meant business. And then PT guy turned and walked away.

“What’s so important?” Ethan asked. His curiosity piqued.

“I have a problem.”

Ethan sat back down. “Tell me what it is, and I’m sure we can work out a solution.”

“I need to go home.” When he opened his mouth to speak, she said, “I’m serious. I have responsibilities. The town is counting on me.”

“We talked about this,” he said calmly. “You know you aren’t ready to be at home. Not yet. I’m sure people will understand.”

She shook her head. “This is too important. I have to leave and you have to help me get out of here.”

He couldn’t imagine what had her so worked up. “Just tell me what it is and I’ll take care of it for you.”

She paused as though considering his words. “You’d do that?”

He nodded, still not knowing what he was agreeing to. “If it’ll keep you here. So what is it?”

“Well, if you’re sure about this?” When he nodded once more, she continued. “I’m in charge of Spring Fling. I need to make sure everything is organized. You can find my notes in my desk. They are in a purple binder.”